AUSTIN, Texas — Non-alcoholic wine, hops water and creative mocktails are on the drink menu at Sans Bar, Austin's sober bar.
It was founded in 2017 by Chris Marshall, an addiction counselor who has been sober for 12 years.
"I decided that there needs to be more social spaces dedicated to people who needed somewhere to connect with other people," Marshall said.
He started the bar as a place for those struggling with sobriety to connect with others, but Sans Bar is open to anyone who wants to go out without being around alcohol – or to "stay social, stay sober," as the bar's motto goes.
"In the social landscape that we find ourselves in, people are hungry for actual connection, heart-to-heart connection. And I just believe that Sans Bar is that," Marshall said.
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One of the drinks offered at Sans Bar is a rosemary and ginger mule. It has rosemary-infused simple syrup and ginger beer with a squeeze of lime.
"The Rattlesnake" is a mango-flavored drink with a kick. It has Seedlip 94 – a distilled non-alcoholic botanical – mango juice and a house-made mango simple syrup.
Marshall is taking Sans Bar on a nine-city tour that started in Seattle and will end in Los Angeles in September.
The bar, located at 1818 East 12th Street, is open every Friday and select Saturdays.
PHOTOS: Inside Sans Bar, Austin's first 'sober bar'
If you can't afford the cover at Sans Bar, you can email them and they will work with you. Their website states, "Sans Bar is fortunate to have a few generous supporters who donate a limited amount of money to help those in need. We never want to turn anyone away, so please email sansbarinfo@gmail.com for help."
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